NEW ORLEANS — Ever since Shanda Brown can remember she’s been all about movement.
At her movement healing studio in Broadmoor, she uses that skill to help heal her clients.
“I combine dance, yoga, Pilates,” she said. “I’m able to show people how to use those modalities to move trauma and trigger out of the body.”
Brown credits the success of her studio – Domango Training the Healing Studio – to her upbringing in New Orleans East.
“That’s where I fell in love with dance,” she said. “For me growing up in New Orleans East meant community and success.”
For years now there has been a fight by city leaders and activists who know the potential of the east to bring that success back.
On Tuesday, the United Way of Southeast Louisiana opened a Prosperity Center on Morrison. The building will house several services and programs geared toward financial literacy.
According to UWSELA board chair Ron McClain, all residents in the area will have access through the center to “learning about your taxes, learning about financial stability, learning about how you can improve your credit.”
All services offered at the New Orleans East Prosperity Center are free of charge to participants.
“When we know better, we do better. This center helps people learn to know better,” said McClain.
On Tuesday, New Orleans East Matters president Tangee Wall was in attendance praising the potential of the center for residents.
“This community needs sustainable economic development which follows along with this kind of thing that encourages financial opportunity,” said Wall. “It’s never too late to explore a dream.”
Shanda Brown jumped at the opportunity when a Prosperity Center opened in New Orleans – She’s a graduate of the center’s Thriving African American Small Business Initiative.
“I was awarded a $10,000 grant to expand my business,” she said. “United Way has been very critical to me being able to open and sustain an actual physical studio space.”
The center in New Orleans East is located at 8324 Morrison Rd, New Orleans, LA 70127, or stop No. 1593 (Morrison at Crowder) on bus route No. 62 Morrison-Bullard.
To learn more, you can visit the center's website by CLICKING HERE.